ion festival yacht club

'ION Festival in Albania isn't just about music - amazing views, yoga and more await'

ION's week-long festival in Albania was held at the end of September on a hidden coastline and was the perfect celebration to mark the end of summer

• 16:46, 7 Oct 2022
• Updated 16:50, 7 Oct 2022

Getting to Dhërmi in Albania is no easy feat as the country has just one fully functioning international airport which is a four-hour drive - but that was our destination as we headed to ION Festival.

The drive is full of winding roads with scenic views - it's no surprise that it once lured Top Gear for filming.

But once the car sickness subsided and the Ionian sea came into view, we soon realised this small resort village teeming with affable locals was a gem on an under-explored coastline.

Arriving in Dhërmi on Thursday night, it was surprising to see the oft-sleepy town embracing Brits hungry for a party with open arms.

All the restaurants along the Dhërmi seafront form part of the festival, local DJs were playing and the family-run hotels appeared to relish the influx of tourism.

Like most of the events industry, ION was plagued by Covid and its inception was delayed by two years until this summer.

For many of the 2,000-odd revellers decamping to ION, it was their first festival after a long hiatus and the excitement of experiencing the magic together for the first time was palpable.

It's smaller than other festivals, but that means the site never feels overcrowded; queues for toilets and bars were minimal and there was a sense of intimacy as you continued to run into friends both old and new throughout the week.

There is much more at ION than solely music. Wellness activities, curated by Arkana Yoga, which you would not usually find at an electronic music festival were available every day.

Days began with shoreside restorative yoga and the sun went down with Shamanic rituals by Mexican ‘Root of the Gods’.

Closed to outsiders for much of the 20th century, Albania was long the Mediterranean's forgotten outpost.

While Albania is not free from its troubles, its reign of brutal communism is over and the country is seeing a surge in visitors who long for a cheaper alternative to Greece or the Balearics. Corfu Town is around 20 miles across the sea.

Skyscanner saw close to a 50 per cent rise in bookings for flights from the UK to its capital compared with 2019.

The beaches rival any in the Mediterranean and for seven days played host to some of the biggest names in the electronic music scene.

The largest beach was home to the main stage, with the Ceraunian Mountains giving a dramatic backdrop to whichever DJ was playing that night.

Then there was the Yacht Club, part pier, part stage and part bar, strutted over the sea.

Being close to 30 weeks pregnant did not stop Canadian Baby T from playing an impressive hardcore techno set at the beachside Deck stage, with a full moon casting its light over the sea.

Days were spent on the Cove, a stage on a small beach where craggy rock faces acted as drinks holders and the chilled music catered for sore heads from the night before.

“It is paradise here. It takes a long time to get here but that's part of the journey”, London-based producer Daniel Avery who played one of his three sets on the rooftop of Porto Palermo Castle, a 19th-century abandoned fortress, told The Mirror.

He continued: “Being given the opportunity to show different sides of yourself as a DJ is really special and to do it in a place like this does not get much better than that.”

Monday could not have been further from the usual reality of commuting on the Victoria Line, instead, we headed for Gjipe Canyon which was arguably the highlight of the week.

Walking beyond the beach and eco-campground in the canyon, there was a small stage manned by Ben UFO who played a varied set of Jungle, Dub, Gqom and RnB.

His diverse selection of songs acted as the glue between the dancers who were revelling in a shared moment of joy under the last of the summer sun.

Heading back to Dhërmi after an afternoon on Gjipe was the moment we knew this place was somewhere special.

The evening light was dancing on the water as we sped by boat back to the festival site. The Monastery Of Saint Mary, visible from all parts of the festival, stood tall in the hills flanked by mountains dotted with fig and olive trees.

Even the boatman joined in on the fun as he blared Europop music to please the excited Brits.

The hot air buzzed with excitement as we settled on the wooden terrace at Luciano’s and watched the sun go down over the Ionian sea.

In recent years, Croatia has taken the helm in hosting British-run festivals, but this exciting new patch could soon take over as a summer festival with a difference. That difference became even clearer when the bill for a fresh fish dinner and rosé for two at Luciano's arrived at under £20.

Partying in the open air, with the option to drink a pina colada on a nearby sunbed never got boring.

But if the near-one-week-of-raving legs needed some energy to keep moving, then — somewhat paradoxically — it was the last night that served new zeal.

The festival schedulers took the canny decision to save the biggest artists at the most anticipated stage until the final night.

From outside Splendor Hotel, it would be hard to know that Detroit techno legend Jeff Mills was slamming his trademark drum beats to thousands.

But descending down a concrete ramp revealed an underground car park kitted out with a mighty strobe system and it felt like one of the most exciting club venues to date.

Jeff Gray, one of the organisers of the festival, told the Mirror the team were “blown away with the site” when they first visited.

And what now makes it even more special, he said, is the excitement from the government who are so excited to welcome people who have never visited Albania before.

Sadly all good things must come to an end, but most people said they were already on the waiting list for tickets next year.

ION Festival returns 6 - 13th September 2023 and tickets start at £302 per person which includes accommodation. Find out more at ionalbania.com .

Albawings and easyJet offer direct flights to Albania from the UK.

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Albania’s ION Festival launch ticket sales next week

On Wednesday 9th February at 12pm, ION festival will go on sale with the remaining tickets for the first-ever event. Having been postponed for two years due to Covid, ION will be taking over the picturesque area of Dhërmi, Albania. The festival location is set amongst crystal blue sea, cold war bunkers, secret coves, and multiple stages covering the seven-day event with more to be announced.

Artist highlights include Chaos in the CBD, Maribou State, Jeff Mills, Nina Kraviz, DJ Stingray, Helena Hauff, Daniel Avery, HAAi, Nicolas Lutz and Pangaea . The stages will include some of the most original on the global festival circuit bringing Junction 2 ‘s legendary sound and light teams with them to create some of the most memorable parties to happen across Europe. The festival takes place from September 7th – 14th 2022 and tickets start at £302 per person which includes accommodation.

ION is a different kind of music event, one where there are no festival fences. Ticket holders are pushed to explore as they please and create a pure holiday experience.

Set in an untouched part of the world on the outskirts of Europe, ION festival shares the same region of the Mediterranean as Corfu and Southeast Italy commanding 25°C weather in September. The first thing of note is the stunning Albanian coastline running along the Ionian Sea pressed against a pebbly beach and transparent ocean water taking up much of the festival site. The part that really adds to ION ‘s incredible setting is that it’s directly under the imposing green Ceraunian mountains that only adds to the scenic nature of the festival which feels totally cut off from the rest of the world.

Dotted throughout the festival playground will be a number of stages and experiences. Currently, there are five stages announced across the festival site with other experiences across the coastline, only accessible by boat. These will provide some of the most memorable moments of the week.

Jeff Gray , from ION says “ When we are started to bring our vision for ION Festival to life, we wanted to make sure each music location had its own, unique vibe with a distinct music programme to match.

From the open-air hedonism of our Main Stage and The Deck, to the depths of The Bunker, the intimacy of The Cove, to The Yacht Club’s slick terrace, we feel we have fine-tuned our lineup with exceptional attention to detail. And that’s all before we get to the additional experiences that we know will provide some of the most incredible spots to experience electronic music anywhere in the world.

We hope you can all join us in this stunning location that we are extremely fortunate to call home this September. ”

The Main Stage will be an open-air haven, a safe harbour set into a private cove. Lucky dancers can keep moving until the early hours when the warm sunrise spreads over the area.

The Bunker will be hidden away from prying eyes. The cavernous indoor space of blasted concrete pillars and the labyrinthine of passageways creates the more atmospheric buildings on the site.

The Deck is for those lazy cocktail-fueled days and balmy nights. This beachside stage is a spacious outdoor area in which to enjoy the music of those selectors who know how to soundtrack summer memories.

The Cove is an intimate, sandy paradise on the water’s edge. As the heat of the afternoon gives way to night-time hedonism, this stage transforms from a chilled-out sun trap to dance central.

Jutting over the Ionian is The Yacht Club , from its position on top of a rocky outcrop, festival-goers can dance into the early hours and enjoy the coast’s epic panorama view from this slick, modern terrace.

The team behind ION is no stranger to putting on a good party, best known for Junction 2 festival, the team at LWE has slowly risen through the ranks from club promoters to major festival event organisers. Now ION is the jewel in the crown bringing people from far and wide for one hedonistic week in a brand new location.

For everyone who chooses to come to ION on this extended summer party, it will be a week filled with new encounters and 3,000 like-minded friends, all soundtracked by electronic music’s best artists.

For the chance to purchase tickets pre-registration is mandatory and can be done via the ION festival website HERE .

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Ion Festival

Dhërmi, Albania

ION Festival 2022 is centered around three key principles: uniting the underground community, exploring new frontiers, and enveloping a sustainable mindset. This week-long event extends from September 7th – 14th, 2022, making it a perfect way to end summer. ION is a different kind of music event that encourages festival-goers to journey beyond the festival fences and have a real vacation experience.

Ion's Stages

ION’s handpicked artists will have space to flex their musical acumen across six custom-imagined stages. The Main Stage is an open-air haven, a safe harbor set in a private cove. This venue lets guests dance until the early morning, when they’ll marvel at a perfectly soundtracked oceanside sunrise.

The Bunker is a vast indoor space that’s blasted with concrete pillars and labyrinthine passageways, making it one of the most atmospheric buildings you’ll ever see. For lazy days and balmy nights, go to the Deck. This beachside stage is a spacious outdoor area that will feature selectors who have mastered how to soundtrack summer memories.

When it comes to the Cove, the description is in the name. This intimate, sandy paradise is situated right on the water’s edge and creates the perfect backdrop to your festival dreams. On a rocky outcrop, the Yacht Club stage juts out over the Ionian Sea. This natural, modern terrace provides festival-goers with panoramic views of the picturesque coast.

Ion’s final stage might be one of its most unique. The Canyon is near Gjipe beach, enclosed by a dramatic, imposing rock face. This secluded stage is only accessible by boat and is bound to host some of the most memorable parties of the week.

Ion's Lineup

Each artist will play at least one set, with many scheduled for multiple jaunts, giving attendees a glimpse into their favorite artists’ musical range. You’ll hear sets from the legendary techno queen, Nina Kraviz. One of the most influential names in contemporary techno, Marcel Dettmann, will prove why he was hand-selected for residencies at Berlin institution Berghain and its predecessor Osgut. The raw and uncompromising Dax J brings his blend of tough warehouse techno. Ruta5 label owner Sonja Moonear will undoubtedly unleash a diverse and genre-bending set for Ion. And the ever-popular master of analog-fueled techno and electro Helena Hauff will keep the dancefloor poppin’.

Other master selectors found on the lineup include longtime champion of electro, house, and minimal techno, Jennifer Cardini. Dropping what will undoubtedly be the perfect blend of classic house contemporary sounds is TSHA, BBC Radio 1’s first ‘Future Artist’ and one of 2021’s most exciting breakthrough acts. And iconic English duo Maribou State will set the mood perfectly for a summertime beachside experience.

Apart from the stellar house and techno lineup, UK garage sensation Frankel & Harper will be hitting the decks as well as the impressive Madam X. With over 60 acts on the bill, this list is only a glimpse into the festival lineup. The rest can be found here.

ION is the latest festival from LWE, the longstanding team behind countless acclaimed music events in the UK, including London’s Junction 2 Festival. Alongside the array of musical offerings, ION attendees will be able to take part in meditations, sound baths, yoga sessions, paddle boarding, hiking, and snorkeling.

This illustrious event is a chance for a limited number of like-minded music lovers to come together, to rave among the ruins, and dance under the stars. LWE will be capping attendees at 3,000, making it an intimate affair for people to truly connect and immerse themselves in the moment

All ION ticket sales include sleeping accommodations. This all-in-one package aims to protect attendees from overspending on over-inflated hotel rates during festival week and ensure sustainable prices for ION this year and beyond. LWE favors this approach because they understand that managing the accommodations enables them to deliver the best festival experience.

ION takes place in Dhermi, Albania, a coastal village between Vlora and Saranda. If you’re arriving from abroad and aren’t sure how to get to the festival, we’ve got you covered. The best way to reach ION Festival is to fly into the Greek island of Corfu first. The festival organizers arranged transfers directly from Corfu to the festival locations. Transportation includes a boat trip from the Port of Corfu to Albania and a bus transfer to your festival accommodation.

Dhërmi, Vlorë County

Travel Adventure

Apr 8, 2022

Tucked away near a narrow piece of coastline on the Albania Riviera sits the idyllic, dreamy village of Dhërmi. Within the embrace of the Ceraunian Mountains on the edge of the Ionian Sea, this small slice of Albanian paradise (population: 1,800) will soon be the site of the inaugural  ION Festival , hosting more than 60 DJs and artists and 3,000 attendees for a weeklong immersive music experience. 

For festival founders Paul Jack and Will Harold, one element was fundamental in the conception of ION: location, location, location. Jack and Harold, also founders of one of the UK’s premier techno festivals,  Junction 2 , aim to create an enclosed, communal experience—all enhanced by the natural topography and beauty of the Ionian Sea Coast.

“Our shows are very much based on the aesthetic of the location,” says Harold. “ION was really borne from [Junction 2]. Both follow a similar journey in that we had plans to do a techno festival, but they were only going to come to fruition when we found the right locations.”

Dhërmi was that precious hidden gem. A premier, yet still up-and-coming, vacation destination for European tourists, the picturesque village lies 42 kilometers south of the city of Vlorë. Like many small towns in coastal Albania, Dhërmi is distinctly marked by a mountainous landscape supplied with high cliffs, rocky and sandy coasts, deep bays, and crystal-clear waters home to an array of biodiverse marine life—including multiple species of whales, dolphins, and sea turtles.

What sets ION apart from other festivals is not only its unique symbiosis with the natural terrain. It’s also the partnership ION organizers have fostered with the local community. Working in collaboration with Dhërmi’s major, ION has commissioned wrist-banded access at the village’s entrance for the week. Attending festivalgoers from abroad must purchase accommodations with their tickets, which helps foster a more sustainable, intimate experience.

“One of the key points was to create a festival that was enclosed,” says Jack. “For a lot of events abroad, they generally share a town or location with other partygoers or vacationers. So, it can have a certain disconnected feel.”

“Yeah, it dilutes it,” chimes Harold. “Especially when you’re around a bunch of other people who aren’t on the same journey or in the same headspace. Like-minded people sharing a love for music in beautiful surroundings is at the heart of what we do.”

“Exactly,” agrees Jack. “The same people you were dancing with on the beach at 4am—getting ready for the sunrise—are going to be the same people you’re later sitting in a café or having dinner with. We expect people will be bonding across the full week. Faces should be very familiar by the end of it.” 

ION will curate six stages integrated with the natural aesthetics of the town and coastline, each with a distinct vibe and music program to match. 

The  Main Stage  will host a wealth of headlining techno artists throughout the week. As one of the largest of ION’s stages, this open-air haven will have a mini-amphitheater set into a private cove. It’s where festivalgoers can dance until the sunrise peaks up over the blue waters.

The  Deck  is the spot for “lazy days and balmy nights.” A beachside stage built atop a rocky outcrop, this location near the Main Stage will have a more club-like atmosphere, says Jack and Harold. 

The  Cove  is an intimate, sandy paradise on the water’s edge. Described as having an “Ibiza-like vibe,” this smaller stage is where you might be happy dancing with a few dozen others. “In my mind, if you’ve had a late night the night before, you might grab some breakfast and have a little dip in the sea [at the Cove] the next morning,” says Harold.

The  Yacht Club  is in the name. Built into the hull of a boat jutting out of a rocky outcropping, festivalgoers can enjoy a panoramic view of the sea while capturing spectacular sunrise and sunset moments while sipping a cocktail.

The  Canyon  is a hidden beach enclosed by an imposing rock face. Offset from the rest of the festival, it’s accessible only by an hourlong boat ride. A deep gorge with crystalline waters, this iconic venue will be the site of select parties throughout the week.

Finally, ION’s pièce de résistance?

The  Bunker  is where it all comes together. Used for one night only, this massive indoor venue (capacity: approximately 1,500) is the largest of the festival. A dark, industrial space comprised of concrete pillars and labyrinthine passageways, this raw location is dug directly into the rock face beneath Dhërmi’s main hotel. 

“[The party] at the bunker will be the big ‘coming together’ of ION,” says Jack. “Who wouldn’t want to hear nosebleed techno in a submarine base? It’s a guaranteed show. It’s going to be mind-blowing.”

All six locations, mostly walkable from one another, will play a prominent role in the intentional intimacy of the festival, offering a feeling of escapism unlike anything else.

“A lot of times, festivals spend a lot of money creating an ‘underground’ seeming space,” says Harold. 

 “Whereas what we’re doing with ION is taking naturally beautiful spaces—a beach, a submarine base—and programming it with music that suits that environment. That marriage is important to us.”

Exploration has always been a core component of rave culture. And that sense of wanderlust and slowly building a personal, one-of-kind journey throughout the week is something Jack and Harold hope the festival’s structure helps facilitate. To that end, ION has partnered with several vendors to offer various excursions, including kayaking, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, and mountain biking.

What’s more, they’ve asked many of the artists to stay the week and interact with the crowd. 

“For many people there’s a long journey to get there,” says Harold. “We’ve asked that artists to stay, rather than having them zooming in, playing for a few hours, then zooming off again. A lot of them are staying for multiple days and playing multiple sets. We want more time and space for these things to unfold.”

ION, seemingly, has taken eons. Delayed two consecutive years, the dance music community is eager to reunite for this extraordinary festival experience based on a three-word mantra: Dance. Explore. Connect. 

“It’s simple,” says Harold. “Dance and enjoy yourself. Explore the incredible surroundings. Connect with music and other human beings. If you do those three things, you’ll have a great time.” 

Connect with  ION Festival  on  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Twitter

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More artists announced for 2nd edition of ION Festival this September

More artists have been announced for the 2 nd edition of ION Festival. The week-long destination festival will take place from 6- 13 September 2023 at the idyllic location of Dhërmi in Albania.

Attendees can expect underground sounds of house, techno, modern electro, breakbeat, DnB and jungle, dub/reggae, ambient and more from over 50 of the best electronic music artists in the business—names like Daniel Avery, Helena Hauff, DJ Boring and Jimi Jules—all in a uniquely intimate environment!

In addition to the music, the roster is loaded with activities and well-being content, from yoga and beach massages to kayaking, snorkeling, paragliding, and day excursions to explore the natural wonders of the Albanian Riviera — which is before we mention the awesome local food.

ION Festival is presented by LWE Events and Junction 2 , so rest assured you’re in good hands. Ticket info lower down…

ION Festival 2023 line-up

Tickets, travel & essential info

Tickets go on general sale Wednesday February, starting at £256. All festival tickets are sold with the accommodation bundled in, which is explained in more detail on their website . For cheap flights to Albania, try Tripadvisor .

ION Festival will take place from 6- 13 September 2023 in Dhërmi, Albania.

ION Festival has 5 different stages

Blurbs taken from their website .

Main Stage: An ode to open-air clubbing of old, featuring a wooden dance floor, well stocked bars, a chill- out area with day beds, its own private beach and a stunning mountain backdrop, our Main Stage hosts some of the most in-demand brands and acts in dance music. Part of the Empire hotel, its beachside location and stunning sound system make it the perfect place to see in the sunrise with your fellow ravers.

Deck: A serene beachside bar by day, The Deck transforms into an unforgettable raving experience during the night. As the waves crash against the beach just metres away, you can soak up the sounds of some of dance music’s most gifted selectors, and watch the moon turn to sun just above the booth.

Cove: The Cove is the ideal place to relax during the day or get your boogie on at night, feeling the sand beneath your feet and swimming in the crystal blue waters as you take in daytime sets or getting your groove on to some of our favourite selectors by night.

Yacht Club: Another stunning location, The Yacht Club is a terrace bar flanked by gorgeous beaches, jutting out into the water for some incredible views along the way. It’s perfect for chilling out with friends during the day or shaking a leg at night.

Canyon: Our hidden stage, just 15 minutes away via boat, Gjipe is surely one of the greatest party locations on earth. With spectacular scenery, including a forest, waterfalls and the incredible canyon, Gjipe is a one-of-a-kind spot that you will never forget, featuring some truly special sets from our performers.

Don’t forget to check out other upcoming music festivals in Europe via our European festivals feed . Image credit: ION Festival 2023.

• tags: Alternative Festivals , Destination Festivals , Festivals in Albania , ION Festival , Junction 2 , LWE Events

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ION Festival scheduled for September w/ Jeff Mills, Nina Kraviz, DJ Stingray, Helena Hauff, Daniel Avery and more

Created by the team from London’s infamous Junction 2 festival, ION will be Junction 2 on holiday set in the unspoiled beaches and forested mountains of Dhërmi.

ION will be taking over the picturesque area of Dhërmi, Albania. The festival location is set amongst crystal blue sea, cold war bunkers, secret coves, and multiple stages covering the seven-day event with more to be announced. Artist highlights include Chaos in the CBD, Maribou State, Jeff Mills, Nina Kraviz, DJ Stingray, Helena Hauff, Daniel Avery, HAAi, Nicolas Lutz and Pangaea. The stages will include some of the most original on the global festival circuit bringing Junction 2’s legendary sound and light teams with them to create some of the most memorable parties to happen across Europe. The festival takes place from September 7th – 14th 2022 and tickets start at £302 per person which includes accommodation.

For the chance to purchase tickets pre-registration is mandatory and can be done via the ION festival website HERE .

ION is a different kind of music event, one where there are no festival fences. Ticket holders are pushed to explore as they please and create a pure holiday experience.

Set in an untouched part of the world on the outskirts of Europe, ION festival shares the same region of the Mediterranean as Corfu and Southeast Italy commanding 25°C weather in September. The first thing of note is the stunning Albanian coastline running along the Ionian Sea pressed against a pebbly beach and transparent ocean water taking up much of the festival site. The part that really adds to ION’s incredible setting is that it’s directly under the imposing green Ceraunian mountains that only adds to the scenic nature of the festival which feels totally cut off from the rest of the world.

Dotted throughout the festival playground will be a number of stages and experiences. Currently, there are five stages announced across the festival site with other experiences across the coastline, only accessible by boat. These will provide some of the most memorable moments of the week.

Jeff Gray, from ION says “When we are started to bring our vision for ION Festival to life, we wanted to make sure each music location had its own, unique vibe with a distinct music programme to match.

From the open-air hedonism of our Main Stage and The Deck, to the depths of The Bunker, the intimacy of The Cove, to The Yacht Club’s slick terrace, we feel we have fine-tuned our lineup with exceptional attention to detail. And that’s all before we get to the additional experiences that we know will provide some of the most incredible spots to experience electronic music anywhere in the world.

We hope you can all join us in this stunning location that we are extremely fortunate to call home this September.”

The Main Stage will be an open-air haven, a safe harbour set into a private cove. Lucky dancers can keep moving until the early hours when the warm sunrise spreads over the area.

The Bunker will be hidden away from prying eyes. The cavernous indoor space of blasted concrete pillars and the labyrinthine of passageways creates the more atmospheric buildings on the site.

The Deck is for those lazy cocktail-fueled days and balmy nights. This beachside stage is a spacious outdoor area in which to enjoy the music of those selectors who know how to soundtrack summer memories.

The Cove is an intimate, sandy paradise on the water’s edge. As the heat of the afternoon gives way to night-time hedonism, this stage transforms from a chilled-out sun trap to dance central.

Jutting over the Ionian is The Yacht Club , from its position on top of a rocky outcrop, festival-goers can dance into the early hours and enjoy the coast’s epic panorama view from this slick, modern terrace.

The team behind ION is no stranger to putting on a good party, best known for Junction 2 festival, the team at LWE has slowly risen through the ranks from club promoters to major festival event organisers. Now ION is the jewel in the crown bringing people from far and wide for one hedonistic week in a brand new location.

For everyone who chooses to come to ION on this extended summer party, it will be a week filled with new encounters and 3,000 like-minded friends, all soundtracked by electronic music’s best artists.

Currently announced artists include: The Main Stage: Chaos in the CBD Dan Shake Dasha Rush Dax J Elise IMOGEN Marcel Dettmann Maribou State DJ Oda Haliti Overmono Live SNO Tijana T Truly Madly TSHA The Main Stage Music Partners: Eat Your Own Ears Junction 2 Love Unlimited

The Deck: Baby T Bambounou Batu Carl Craig Craig Richards Daniel Avery DJ Masda DJ Stingray Ferro Helena Hauff Heléna Star Jennifer Cardini Krankbrother Nicolas Lutz Reiss Robin Ordell Roman Flügel Sam Bangura Sonja Moonear Voigtmann The Deck Music Partners: Half Baked Krankbrother Say It Loud VBX

The Cove Adam Shelton B.Love Bambounou Ben UFO Chaos in the CBD Daniel Avery Eclair Fifi Effy Gemza George FitzGerald HAAi Hamish & Toby Heléna Star IMOGEN JASSS Jayson Wynters Jennifer Cardini Lola Haro Madam X Manami Otik Radioactive Man SNO Tom Frankel Tomi GJ TSHA

The Yacht Club: A-Future Altin Boshnjaku Andy Luff B.Love Besa Mati Effy Elise Ferro Frankel & Harper Gemza Hamish & Toby Jayson Wynters Kirsti Leo Lumezi Liebus Lola Haro Madam X Malika Manami Nicolas Lutz Pangaea Pearson Sound Radioactive Man Reiss Robin Ordell Sam Bangura Truly Madly Voigtmann The Yacht Club Music Partners: EON Records Picnic

The Bunker Dax J Héctor Oaks Imogen Jeff Mills Nina Kraviz The Bunker Music Partners: Junction 2

Additional Experiences: B.Love Batu Craig Richards Daniel Avery Dax J George Fitzgerald HAAi Helena Hauff Hessle Audio Trio Jayson Wynters Krankbrother Marcel Dettmann Maribou State DJ Otik Roman Flügel SNO Additional Experiences Music Partners: Club Èkó

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Craig, MIlls, Kraviz and more confirmed for Albania’s new ION Festival

Promoters hope it will ne “Junction2 on holiday”

Carl Craig (pictured), Jeff Mills, Nina Kraviz,, Maribou State, DJ Stingray, Daniel Avery, Helena Hauff and many more names have been confirmed for a new festival in Albania this summer.

The ION Festival is being curated by the London party crew who organised the Junction 2 festival at Tobacco Dock, East London,. Taking place from September 7-14., it’s being described as “Junction 2 on holiday, set in the unspoiled beaches and forested mountains of Dhërmi”.

Jeff Gray from ION say s: “When we are started to bring our vision for ION Festival to life, we wanted to make sure each music location had its own, unique vibe with a distinct music programme to match. “From the open-air hedonism of our Main Stage and The Deck, to the depths of The Bunker, the intimacy of The Cove, to The Yacht Club’s slick terrace, we feel we have fine-tuned our lineup with exceptional attention to detail. And that’s all before we get to the additional experiences that we know will provide some of the most incredible spots to experience electronic music anywhere in the world. “

Tickets, priced at £302 per person, but include accommodation for the whole week, went on sale today from the ION website.

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ION Festival confirms first edition line-up after two years of postponements

The line-up includes the likes of Overmono, Nina Kraviz, Ben UFO and TSHA

• Mixmag Staff
• 8 February 2022

ION Festival has announced its stage line-ups for its 2022 event.

The festival is due to take place in Dhërmi, Albania from September 7 to September 14 2022.

The festival is the brainchild of the team from London’s infamous Junction 2 festival ; the line-up for this year's ION edition includes some huge names from across the spectrum of electronic music.

Read this next: Industrial Playground: Junction 2 has quickly become London's best techno event

Set across four stages and an adjacent terrace called The Yacht Club, the festival promises its guests "some of the most incredible spots to experience electronic music anywhere in the world."

At the open air Main Stage, set into a private cove, revellers can expect to see the likes of TSHA , Chaos in the CBD , Dan Shake , Elise and Overmono (live).

Read this next: TSHA's timeless house is inspired by heartfelt connections

At the beachside stage, The Deck festivalgoers can experience Helena Hauff , Heléna Star , Carl Craig , DJ Stingray 313 and more.

At The Cove, a waterside stage, expect to see HAAi , Ben UFO , Daniel Avery and Effy .

Read this next: Pure and simple: Ben UFO is one of the most beloved DJs of our time

The Bunker will see techno legends Jeff Mills , Nina Kraviz , Dax J, Héctor Oaks and Imogen.

The Yacht Club allows fans to "dance into the early hours" and will host the likes of Pangaea and Pearson Sound .

View this post on Instagram A post shared by ION Festival (@ionfestival)

Read this next: HAAi is exiting lockdown with an assured vision and a daring debut album

Jeff Gray, from ION says: “When we are started to bring our vision for ION Festival to life, we wanted to make sure each music location had its own, unique vibe with a distinct music programme to match.

"From the open-air hedonism of our Main Stage and The Deck, to the depths of The Bunker, the intimacy of The Cove, to The Yacht Club’s slick terrace, we feel we have fine-tuned our lineup with exceptional attention to detail. And that’s all before we get to the additional experiences that we know will provide some of the most incredible spots to experience electronic music anywhere in the world."

"We hope you can all join us in this stunning location that we are extremely fortunate to call home this September.”

Read this next: Jeff Mills: a science fiction story that’s constantly unfolding

There are currently five stages announced, but the festival promises that there will soon be "other experiences announced which will be available off the coastline, only accessible by boat".

Having been postponed due to COVID, this September edition will be the festival's inaugural run.

The festival promises beachside revellers a serene experience as "it’s directly under the imposing green Ceraunian mountains that only adds to the scenic nature of the festival which feels totally cut off from the rest of the world."

Read this next: Nina Kraviz: "We are living in the time of careful electronic music"

For the chance to purchase tickets pre-registration is mandatory and can be done via the ION festival website here .

Tickets will be going on sale from Wednesday February 9 from 12:PM.

Aneesa Ahmed is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter

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• Art & Culture

Review: ION Festival 2022

September saw thousands of party-goers flock to the Albanian Riviera for the long-awaited ION festival.

I’m in a concrete bunker, sweat seeping out of every pore, as the thrumming beats of techno legend Jeff Mills work the hundreds-strong crowd into an increasingly frenzied melee of gyrating limbs.

Two hours later we emerge from this vast underground labyrinth, gasping for cool air.

It’s 4am but for some the party is just getting started. “Where are you going? It’s Nina Kraviz next?” shout a group of bare-chested Brits, pumping their arms as they plunge back down into the haze for the start of the Russian DJ’s set.

For three years, such scenes of sweaty hedonism were but a distant dream for LWE, the brains behind ION, a week-long festival of electronic music held in Dhërmi, a little-known slice of Albanian beach paradise.

While the festival was originally planned for 2020 and then 2021, Covid-19 restrictions meant that it had to be postponed twice. When I spoke to Alan Crofton, Managing Director of Mainstage Festivals who run the ION site, he could barely disguise his relief that it was finally happening.

“We launched it in 2019 and it’s been a rough ride, so to finally see it come to life has been amazing,” he said.

While dancing to Mills and Kraviz’s headline acts left everyone buzzing, just the location of ION, the sleepy Albanian fishing village of Dhërmi, had already made for a unique festival experience. Waking up on Thursday morning, I was immediately confronted by the mesmerising sight of the Ceraunian Mountains. A gigantic range which extends for more than 100 kilometres from the Greek border all the way of the southwestern coast, they loom over the festival site.

It is said that Julius Caesar and his army once braved these treacherous mountain passes to secure a decisive military victory, setting Caesar on a path to becoming Emperor of Rome. Daytime hikes to various historical sites were on offer to more adventurous revellers, while Dhërmi’s sandy beaches offered a more conventional way of refilling the energy tank from the night before.

LWE have declared their intention to turn this corner of the Albanian Riviera into Europe’s next big festival destination, one capable of rivalling Greece and Croatia, and their blend of headline artists and emerging talents made ION’s music line-up a compelling mix.

Thursday saw us dancing to the dawn to the pounding techno of rising UK star Daniel Avery on The Deck, ION’s beachside hub, while Friday’s Main Stage featured Maribou State playing their customary plethora of unique sounds under a full moon.

Deciding where to spend each night was no easy feat, but we often chose to begin with the cheesy tracks of the Yacht Club to get the party started before heading to The Cove, a packed venue right on the water’s edge. As Jennifer Cardini’s garage post-punk inspired set whipped the crowd into a near hypnotic state of mind on the Saturday night, one of my colleagues made the mistake of straying a little too far down the sands and found himself soaked by a rogue wave.

Each day brought a choice of vibes. Like Mainstage’s Kala festival, held in the same location earlier in the year, wellness activities are worked into the programme, with morning and evening yoga classes, breathwork instructors, and even a shaman-led spiritual session which offered a chance to experience rapé, a sacred tobacco used as part of medicinal rituals by tribes in Brazil and Peru. Blown up the nose with a wooden pipe, causing a burning sensation in the upper nostrils, it’s definitely not one for the faint-hearted.

But what set ION apart from the other European festivals I’ve been to was the wealth of imagination which went into designing the various stages. Where else would you get to dance to funky beats on the rooftop of a 15th century fort, once the home of a notorious general in the Ottoman Empire? On Monday afternoon, we warmed up for Mills and Kraviz by taking a speedboat a little way down the coast to the Gjipe canyon. Surrounded by imposing rock faces, around 100 festival-goers partied to British DJ Ben UFO before diving into the turquoise waters to cool off.

Local Albanian DJs were also provided welcome opportunities to showcase their music to a wider audience. During one afternoon I sat down with Dhërmi local Andi Qafmolla, known as Andi Q, who headlined the Yacht Club stage on the Saturday. “This is something I really appreciate,” he says. “You see the line-ups for some Croatian festivals and there’s not a single local artist. Here there are at least four or five. It just shows that the organisers here are not just coming to take advantage of the location, they’re helping to grow the Albanian music scene as well.”

Being an inaugural festival there were still a few hiccups. The organisers admitted the transport situation to Dhërmi was somewhat chaotic with most festival-goers flying to Corfu and then being faced with a nigh-four hour ferry trip up to the Albanian port of Himare. While ION was billed as a cashless festival with ticket-holders being issued RFID wristbands, most of the shops and restaurants around the festival site only accepted cash.

But these are minor points. Overall the first-ever ION was an enormous success, and we look forward to seeing what the organisers bring to the table in 2023.

ION Festival returns 6-13th September 2023. Early-bird tickets go on sale in November.

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